Even Tougher Day BikePacking The North Country Traverse?!

[@1Fmarcel]

Summer and biking is the best: Relief.

[@TimFitzwater]

heck yeah!

[@markmoffett6813]

Girl from the north country GREAT song Thanks again for another awesome video Mark from Maryland

[@TimFitzwater]

One of my faves.

[@rogerhart612]

This is like a adventure movie. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for whars to happen next. 🤔🤣 Can't wait.

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha! Nice!

[@Abracadabrad]

Stay tuned to see if we die!

[@ronneilcabrera2301]

I'm a little biased on this, but I love Erin's set up since we both favor the basket lol

[@TimFitzwater]

I did a basket last year - I like them too - stuff is much more accessible that way.

[@telepopepic]

Glad to see you enjoyed what the ride presented rather than trying to make the ride meet your preconceptions. A campfire and a couple of beers doesn’t hurt either.

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - changing up the plans was the way to go.

[@richross8092]

Awesome video.... “Meee”sick is cool little town. Been there a number of times heading to Crystal to go skiing/golfing. Digging the non-Gung ho vibe of the group. Looking forward to the next video.....

[@TimFitzwater]

Nice and thanks! Yeah - there are plenty of cool channels with people trying to conquer challenges - we are trying to have a bit of a challenge and a lot of fun!

[@goodobservers]

You guys made the right calls. Gotta get some down time and enjoyment time. That sand..........

[@TimFitzwater]

That sand is killer. Really glad we pivoted to keep it fun.

[@goodobservers]

@@TimFitzwater I used to be a wildlife biologist specializing in sea birds, so I had to hike in sand 6-8 miles per day on the beach doing surveys. When I came on, my co-workers warned me that one step in sand is the same as two on pavement. So basically double exertion. I think this is right, if not an underestimation. It was brutal and really wore out my body. Seeing you guys in that sand was traumatic for me. Lol.

[@Saguache]

Keeping it party pace is the way to go. I really enjoyed this video, a moment away from the flooding.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks!

[@greg1083]

Did a few rides up that way. Always happy to be riding my Fatbike .😉 Those little steeps we have on our Michigan trails, even in SE Mich, can be the ass kicker of a lot of our trail systems. I have heard folks from mountainous states say it some of the toughest riding they have experienced. Especially if they expected flat and fast. 🤣 A new mtb trail called The Dragon, 19+/- miles, was not to far from your ride route. It's just down from Hardy Dam .

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - definitely would be great on a fat bike. I'll keep that trail in mind - we are thinking of maybe just renting a cabin next time and doing day rides.

[@heavytapes]

+1 on the intense tiring nature of the constant up and down. The best gravel in my area, out in Loudon County, VA, is like that, and it drains you bad!

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - I'm glad we decided to cut it a bit short to keep it fun.

[@ReimaginedAdventures]

Love a good creek swim after a day of bike touring.

[@TimFitzwater]

Nothing better!

[@DIY-DaddyO]

That looked a tough ride, better to rest n recharge rather than slog on and be miserable.

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - cutting it short was definitely the right call!

[@matthewlockhart3226]

Great video! A friend had a cabin in the woods outside of Mesick. I spent a lot of time in the area canoeing, swimming and bathing in the Betsie River (was that where you all took the plunge?). You were really close to a great distillery but given the ride you all had maybe liquor wouldn't have been the best idea.

[@TimFitzwater]

Brad would have loved a distillery stop - but probably just not on these first two days. We did hit breweries on the road section of the trip.

[@Chrisinvention]

It has been great experience to enjoy the scenery and the ride thru your lenses. Liking the narration and the way of you with friends taking us along. No unnecessary bs.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! - I appreciate that!

[@katesmiles4208]

Looks great fun 😊

[@TimFitzwater]

It was - cheers!

[@paulvanreesch2493]

I've snowshoed some of that singletrack near Mesick, many times. It is one steep, short climb after another short steep climb, repeat. Sharply undulating, if you will. I've backpacked in the Rockies and Olympics, this part of northern Michigan can be every bit as challenging, imo.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thats good to hear - makes me feel a little better about our effort!

[@Abracadabrad]

This makes me feel much better.

[@FollowThomas]

Wow, this is a hard ride. 👍

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah! As Erin said - that first part was the hardest 10 miles we've done!

[@EvanLownds]

They call riding in Northern Michigan "death by a thousand cuts" because of all the constant punchy uphill sections. Sure we don't have mountains, but you can still pick up 10,000 feet of climbing on a full day mountain bike ride!

[@TimFitzwater]

We found that out for sure!

[@JoePenaProductions]

Enjoying your travels, music and narrations in and around town, and on trips like this one. -- Also, just got an "Aluminum is not Metal" sticker for my aluminum comfort bike. 😆 P.S. Not a gravel badass, yet. Just a regular one.

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha! Thanks!

[@glennpettersson9002]

That's very pretty country and cycle touring looks like the best way to see it.

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - it would be hard to see as much or areas like this any other way.

[@robertgraves3215]

I didn't know Michigan had elevation like that. All the places I'd been had been desolate and relatively flat. Yes, those burst climbs are brutal, great way to tweak a knee or lower back . Then there'e the stress from the constant skid compensation on the sand and roots. I am so jealous you found free camping, Here in CT that's impossible. Those sites look awesome. I'm sure the well water was pretty good too. I just did a ten miler to get some precious turmeric root for my pain issues , two year supply , 2 lbs. And I am sort of mellow but sort of drained from dealing with traffic , and those fumes, and a tinge of Canadian wildfire smoke. I can't drink beer during the ride at lunch, I get sloshed on one beer. But many times my tent beers are just two tall boy Coor Lights with dinner and I'm out cold by 8:30 and up at first light. I like to thermos up some coffee after dinner so I can drink that for my starter cup in my bag in the AM. Makes fumbling with the stove a lot easier.

[@TimFitzwater]

It’s a lot like here - the elevation comes more from going down - river valleys - then up mountains. My girlfriend is a coffee nerd so no way it isn’t going to be made fresh. (I’m the beer nerd who is almost always gonna have one on a ride / in the middle of a ride right now drinking a beer typing this)

[@robertgraves3215]

@@TimFitzwater wow your multitasking skills are paramount. Be sure to do a chug or a shotgun selfie on a bridge...

[@stephenrobertparkes]

Glad I watched this, thanks for posting!! Gonna go way wider on my tires that I was planning.

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - go as wide as you can!!

[@papatjatja]

Great adventure video, epic scenery and story,...

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks - cheers!

[@aarons9198]

Looks a little like middle Tennessee.

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - the river valley makes it feel like mountains.

[@jacobferrante1610]

Long climbs are easier IMO, because you usually get a decent descent. We have plenty of steep punchy climbs and looooooong steep ones and long gradual ones around Morgantown but the thing is you get a nice descent , when I rode a bunch of rollers in Maine, we never got the descents and it just feels so much more tedious.

[@TimFitzwater]

100. That makes a lot of sense - we even had to walk some descents getting no benefit of the climbs.

[@jacobferrante1610]

@@TimFitzwater Yeah, also why a flat bike path hurts more to me than a nice variable ride. You're in the same position at the same cadence for however long versus multiple positions and cadences.

[@distortohio]

That rooty stuff looked like pretty rugged riding. Y’all are a bunch of troopers! Yo, I dig those Vans grips you’re running too ❤️

[@TimFitzwater]

It was...and the sand can be exhausting too. Love those Vans grips!

[@xjaybirdx309]

It's all so relative. Being in the Northeast a good ride of "elevation " is 1000ft in 10miles. Out west it's totally different but numbers shouldn't dictate how gnarly or epic a ride is.

[@TimFitzwater]

For sure - we were at that ratio but it was much tougher than rides I’ve done with sustained climbs at the same ratio.

[@xjaybirdx309]

@@TimFitzwater it's such a personal experience too. Satisfaction is the key.

[@markday1714]

once again great content!

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks!!

[@stephenmorton8017]

nice! work to a good lunch and an early finish to enjoy the evening. nothing wrong with that. any bugs to deal with? campsite looks good.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! The bugs weren't as bad as I expected them to be. The fire always helps as the sun goes down. We did find some ticks but no one got bit.

[@Abracadabrad]

A lot of flies in the stagnant areas protected from the wind, but if you sweat enough they leave you alone and bite the others!

[@YinzerHouse]

I've found that the analytics of elevation out east are so much more unpredictable than out west... to the point they can really skew ride comparisons on Strava. Maybe it's how the trails and roads are built (wobble vs switchback/straight up) but that constant up/down/up/down action can really wreck you over time, while not always contributing to the "elevation gain" unless the satellites register it. On the GAP trail to Cumberland, I kept looking down and saw 0% grade (probably lack of sensitivity under 1%) , even though you're climbing most of the time. That slow torture almost felt more difficult in the long-run than just getting a solid 1-10% grade over a shorter distance. Not to say that there aren't ups/downs while hitting a steep grade, but generally it seems more predictable.

[@TimFitzwater]

For sure. ...and since I've done the GAP twice in the other direction the opposite was true. Even though no grade was registering we knew we were riding in a gear or two harder than on a true flat.

[@garypierson6455]

I'd pass out and die😂 doing that many miles

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha! It’s not the miles but the terrain that will get ya! (As we now know)

[@iecrime]

Rooty terrain on trails with many sharp, if shorter, ascents, and on heavier bikes weighed down with baggage, can def produce a different type of fatigue, ntm quicker. I've been caught several times on new (to me) trails with much harder ascents than anticipated despite similarities to trails I knew....i.e. 1k ft gain on this trail =/= 1k ft gain on that trail.

[@TimFitzwater]

100% Its not like we were totally clueless - but definitely learned a lot!

[@davidleopold4219]

Great overall Channel content, selected topics, commentary and practical approach to being a Cyclist. Your Bike Build methods/parts-choices and impressive “collection” of bicycles that meet your needs (and wants) are all very, very admirable from any standpoint. My next comment is no more important than a grain of sand released from the deep tread of a tire designed for singletrack. And I’m making the statement wearing a grin. Here ya-go: I would definitely enjoy an unexpected (serendipitous) meeting with you while exploring on 2-wheels when we both decided to stop to grab a coffee, or photograph something unusual in nature. However, we wouldn’t “click” in terms of planning and “fact finding” about a location before packing any gear. (I spend an excessive amount of time gathering information about what I’m “in for.”) For example, TC’s annual Cherry Fes’ can be alotta Fun for the whole family- including the cherry-pit-spitting contest and the Thunderbirds air show. So, luckily your BikePacking plans put the Cherry Festival in your rear view mirror.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks so much! It’s interesting because we are usual very planned(maybe over planned sometimes) and I’m a total nerd about learning about regions and their history- this one just slipped through the cracks.

[@ma_rin_49]

Loving this series so far, it feels like I'm riding there along with you good folks, glad I'm not in some sections, brilliant! Have you made up your mind about the handlebars you're using yet? I match mine with ergo grips just to give my wrists a little support. Thanks for sharing.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! Yes - I am loving the Velo Orange Granola Bars. I could see maybe getting something with even more rise - but I’m going to run these for a while. 300 miles and barely any wrist, hand discomfort.

[@ma_rin_49]

@@TimFitzwater Excellent, I use a height adjustable stem.

[@TheRickurb]

Is that a spare tire strapped to the front of your bike?

[@TimFitzwater]

Are you weight shamming me?

[@TheRickurb]

@@TimFitzwater always

[@dannyboyle1915]

Love the videos, pretty new to your channel but like everything about it! I'm curious how Brad likes the Bridge Club for bike packing? I am considering one, I was actually at Dirty River When he bought his.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! He seems to be really happy with the bike - he just isn’t happy with the bars - wants to put something with more sweep and ride on it.

[@Abracadabrad]

Love it, performed admirably. Even with the 2.25 tires it never felt like a slug. The longer wheelbase felt sturdy on the sketch downhill stuff. Much stiffer ride, but under weight it planed just enough. No toe overlap on all those tight technical turns. Great bike.

[@dannyboyle1915]

@@Abracadabrad thank you very much for the review!

[@DanyaAnderson]

elevation = total height of all climbs

[@TimFitzwater]

That's how I usually see it - meaning there WAS significant elevation.

[@tmayberry7559]

Hear is my definition of elevation. You will climb a lot.

[@TimFitzwater]

🧗‍♀️🧗‍♂️🧗‍♂️

[@philiprayner]

would using a fat bike be better for this trail

[@TimFitzwater]

A fat bike or hardtail would be great for this. We were spending the next few days on the pavement so it was a balancing act. ....but to just go for a day ride on these trails a fat bike would be awesome.

[@Abracadabrad]

A lot of people suggested 2.2 to 2.8 tires for the NCT. Like Tim said, we knew there would be in between sections and some road miles connectors. So there was a balancing act involved. I was really happy with the 2.25 until some of the Sandy sections, but you win some you lose some!

[@Abracadabrad]

But yeah, a fat bike would rule and maybe even trivialize some of those root sections with a low enough tire pressure.

[@TEG7651]

A gruelling ride. Shit I'm tired

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha! Tough but worth it.

[@Mclovinthedank]

This was cool, I would have been the guy who made everyone keep going and hating life...

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - isn't that kind of group - no one would have made everyone keep going! 😎

[@Abracadabrad]

If Erin wasn’t there, Tim would be that guy!!!